Portland Community College has officially opened its newly renovated Health Technology Building at the school’s Sylvania Campus in Southwest Portland, marking the completion of the college’s largest renovation project to date and expanding training opportunities for Oregon’s growing healthcare workforce.
College leaders celebrated the project Tuesday, May 5, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and guided tours attended by approximately 100 guests, including local officials, community partners, members of the Tigard Chamber of Commerce and PCC employees.
The renovated facility, which opened for spring term, is designed to support healthcare education and career training programs across multiple disciplines.
“This building is much more than a renovation,” PCC President Adrien Bennings said during the event. “It is an investment in our students, our healthcare workforce and the future of our region.”
The Health Technology renovation project began in 2018 and was funded through PCC’s voter-approved 2017 and 2022 bond measures. The west-side portion of the renovation modernized 66,000 square feet and added 9,500 square feet of new instructional space at a cost of $37 million.
The latest work followed completion of the building’s east-side renovation in 2023, which updated nearly 100,000 square feet for $78 million. Together, the two phases represent a major overhaul of a career-technical education facility that had not undergone a full renovation since the 1960s.
According to PCC officials, the upgraded building includes modernized instructional spaces for nursing, medical imaging and radiography, physical education and exercise science programs. The project also added collaboration areas, refreshed student commons, new fitness spaces and an all-user locker room with private changing and shower facilities.
Megan De Salvo, CEO of the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce, said the project strengthens the region’s healthcare workforce pipeline.
“The expansion and reopening of the PCC Health Technology Building marks a significant investment in training the region’s future healthcare workforce with modern, hands-on learning spaces,” De Salvo said.
The facility also includes dedicated instructional space for non-credit healthcare programs aimed at both entry-level and continuing education students.
PCC officials said the renovation comes as Oregon continues to face healthcare workforce shortages, with employers reporting more open positions than available workers to fill them.
“By modernizing our instructional spaces and expanding access across multiple healthcare disciplines, PCC is ensuring that our programs are aligned with the needs of our students and regional employer partners,” said Janeen Hull.
Program expansions tied to the project include new nursing assistant labs at Sylvania, additional medical assisting cohorts across three PCC campuses and a specialized VO2 max testing lab for exercise science students.
The renovation was also designed with sustainability and accessibility in mind. PCC said the project is pursuing LEED Gold certification and incorporates energy-efficient features and sustainability planning through incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon.
College officials said the broader economic impact of PCC remains substantial. A 2026 economic impact study by Lightcast, based on 2024 data, found the college contributes $2.7 billion annually to the regional economy and supports more than 20,700 jobs.
“We are deeply grateful to our voters and community for investing in facilities that expand opportunity and strengthen the region’s future,” Bennings said.
More information about the renovation project is available at Portland Community College Bond Program.
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